Picture, sign, mirror, and the like



Jan. 19, 1932.

B. C. PLACE PICTURE, SIGN, MIRROR AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 21. 1950.

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looseness in the panel,'particula rly when the Patented Jan. 19, 1932 STATES PATENT. OFFIQFE BION 0. PLACE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE E.

GAGNIER, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN rrcrnnn, sren, MIRROR, nn THE LIKE Application filed August 21, 1930. Serial No. 476,893.

This inventionrelates to an improved ar rangement forframing pictures, signs, mirrors and the like. More particularly the invention relates to a framing arrangement constructed entirelyof metal, in which the parts are held in assembled relation by means of fasteners that serveto apply a constant yielding pressure to the backing for the panel which may be a picture,mirror, sign or the like. Framing arrangements, heretoforeused, inwhich the frame proper is constructed of metal, have generally embodied wooden inserts to enable thejb ackingpforithe picture or the like to be tacked tosaid insert. Such arrangements are unnecessarily costly to manufacture, and are frequently not entirely satisfactory, because of the fact that the backing after being tacked to such wooden insertsmay become loosened, resulting the development of wringles or other visible latter includes like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a framing arrangement constructed entirely of metal, and to'attach the backlng to the metallic frame proper by means of fasteners that may be applied to the metal frame with the same or greater ease and facility with which a backing can be tacked to wooden inserts, andwhic fasteners serve to apply a constant yielding pressure to the paper, fabric, sheepskin or the backing maintaining it firmly inconta ct with the picture,sign or glass supportedm sald frame in the usual manner, but, nevertheless, permit the detachment of the backing from the frame and the ready replacement of backing and the restoration of the parts to their normal condition Without loss of holding power in the fastener.

A further object of the invention is to pro tirely of metal andutilizing springfasteners forations, providingsockets in the metal frame, in which the fasteners exert a substantial wedging iaction tending to draw the backing continuously into contact with the frame that itis substantially flush withthe rear of the frame providing a neat and workmanlike appearance when viewed from the rear.

A further object of the invention is to provide a framing arrangement for pictures,

mirrorsfdiplomas, signs and the like that may be constructed at a very low cost and conveniently assembled and dissassembled.

Further objects of the invention will appear as a description thereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a rear View of a metallic frame illustrating a preferred manner of constructing said frame, the picture and usual glass being removed to expose the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through a preferred form of framing arrangement.

Figure 3 is, a fragmentary sectional'view illustrating the manner of assembly'of the backing plate and the frame.

Figure 4 represents a fragmentary sectional view of a modified construction.

Figures 5 and represent, respectively side and planviews ofone form of spring fasteners which may be utilized to secure the backing to the metallic frame. vide a framing arrangement constructed en- Figures 7 and 8 are, respectively, side and plan viewsof another form of fastener that may be used for this purpose. 7

Figure 9 is a rear View of a backing plate provided with specially formed openings to facilitate the assembly of the fasteners of the type shown in Figures 5 and 6 with respect to said plate.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of a backing plate equipped with especially formed openings to facilitate the assembly of the type of' f-asteners shown in Figures 7 and 8 with the backing plate.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures.

The framing arrangement of this invention comprises essentially an open metallic frame, a backing to retain the sign, picture, mirror, or whatever may be desired to be framed, in the frame, and spring fasteners to detachably yieldably secure the backing to the metallic frame.

The frame 10 is made up of metallic sections forming the sides and ends which may be united as by mitered welded joints, or the frame may be formed in any other convenient manner. Preferably, it is constructed of hollow form providing a space 11 for the reception of the protruding ends of the fasteners, presently to be referred to, and for the purpose of giving to the frame a desire-d appearance of thickness. When viewed in cross-section the frame preferably consists of an ornamental front portion 12 extending inwardly to a point 13 where it is bent at right angles providing a ledge 14 for the re ception of the panel or glass, that it is desired to frame. Preferably, the side 15 of the frame remote from the panel is straight, although said si-de may be ornamented in any desired form, or the front 12 and the side 15 may be made to merge in any ornamental configuration that may be deemed convenient. The side 15 of the frame is turned inwardly to form a straight portion 16 and said portion is offset, at 17, providing a depression 18 of substantial width for a purpose presently to be described. The offset portion 18 is arranged so that its outer surface is in the same plane as the outer surface of the inwardly turned portion or ledge 14; and the edges of the sheet from which the frame members are formed may be soldered or welded together to form an integral structure, if desired, or said edges may be permitted to remain in abutment as illustrated in Figure 2. At substantially equally spaced intervals around the periphery of the frame, in the depressed portion 18 thereof, suitable perforations 19 are formed providing sockets to each. receive shank of the spring fastener presently to be described.

Backing 20, which may be made of cardboard, fiber board, metal or other suitable material, is provided to firmly secure the sign, pictureor glass in place in the open frame just described. Said backing 20 is formed with return bent edges 21, and it is with these edges that the fasteners are associated. To this end said edges are provided with perforations spaced so to correspond with perforations 19 in the frame 10. 23 represents the panel which may be a sheet of glass, a mirror, or a combination of picture, sign and a sheet of glass, which is to be secured to the frame by means of the backing 20. Said panel rests at its edges against the rear of the frame in well known manner.

Any headed fastener having a shank projecting away therefrom, that is laterally expansible and contractible, may be employed to secure the backing 20 to the frame 10. However, it is preferred to use a simple one piece wire fastener, either of the type illus trated in Figures 5 and 6, or that illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. Each of the fasteners, just referred to is formed from a single piece of spring wire bent so as to provide a head or head sections. and a shank consisting of a pair of spring arms of bowed form so as to en able the fastener to be readily entered into the perforations or sockets 19 provided in the frame, and so that it can then expand and engage the edges of said perforations and retain the fastener from withdrawal from the frame.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the fastener there shown comprises a head 24 in the form of a loop formed from the mid-portion of said piece of wire. The end portions of the wire are then carried inwardly in the plane of the head as indicated at 25 and 26 after which said ends are bent into planes at right angles to the plane of the head of the fastener. Each of said ends, between the tips thereof and the head, are bowed outwardly as indicated at 27 and 28, forming diverging holding portions 29 and 30 and converging guiding portions 31 and 32.

The fastener of Figs. 7 and 8 is likewise constructed of a single piece of wire the respective ends of which are each bent into the form of a loop 33 forming a head section. The mid-portion of the wire between said head section is bent into planes at right angles to the head sections, and the arms thus formed are each bowed outwardly, as indicated at 34 and 35, providing a fastener having a nose 36 arranged to enter one of the perforations 19, guiding portions 37 and 38 and holding portions 39 and 40.

In the use of the invention just described, fasteners, of either of the forms just referred to, are associated with the backing 20 by placing the shank thereof through the perforations provided in the returnbent edges of said backing. This may be accomplished readily before making the returnbend in the backing, or the fasteners may be associated therewith by separating the return-bent edges sufficiently to permit the in sertion of the fastener between the body and said edges. After the fastener has been ap plied to the backing, the head thereof is disposed between the return-bent edges and the body of the backing so that it is concealed by the latter. This constitutes an important characteristic of this invention. The assembly of the panel, backing andthe frame is thencompleted by bringing the backing 20, with the fasteners applied thereto, to the position shown in Fig. 3, at which the fasteners are opposite the openings 19 in the frame 10. Pressure is then exerted to force the shank of the fastener through said perforation. Initially theedges of the perforations will engage the guiding portions31 and 32, when a fastener of the character shown in Figs. 5 andfi is employed. As the fastener is forced through said perforations the wedging action resulting from engagementof the guiding portions 31 and 32 with the edges of said perforation causes the shank of the fastener to contract. After the widest portion thereof has passed through the opening the arms constituting the shank of the fastener spring apart, and in view of their inclination serve to draw the backing firmly against the frame by means of a resilient wedging action. Accordingly when the fasteners have been inserted through the openings 19, the backing 20is drawn firmly in the depression formed in the rear of the frame and the rear side of the backing is substantially flush with the side 16 of thBfItMIlG. A neatappearing assembly is thus provided with the fasteners wholly invisible as above pointed out. Nevertheless, when it is desired to detach the backing from the frame, it is only necessary to pry the backing loose from the frame, such action causing the resilient shanks of the fasteners to first contract to permit the fastener to pass through the opening so that the backing may be completely removed. When the purpose for which the backing has been removed is accomplished, it may be readily replaced in the manner above described and the fasteners will again grip the edges of the openings in which they are placed with the same degree of firmness that was characteristic of their first application.

The fastener shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is used in the manner just described, with reference to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when this fastener is used. The spring arms of this fastener however, flex at the nose 36 giving long resilient arms to support the head sections 33 that have wide bearing surfaces on the backing. J

If desired, the frame can take the form 10 shown in Figure 4, and the depression in the rear thereof may be omitted. In this case the return bent edges 21 of the backing are located so as to be disposed flush with the side 41 of the frame 10', or if desired, the frame illustrated in Figure 4 may be provided with depressions as in the manner above described with respect to the form of invention shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the fasteners with the return bent. edges 21 of thebacking 20, the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 9 or 10 may be employed, that in Fig. 9. being intended particularly for use when the fastener shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is employed, while that illustrated in Fig. 10 is intended for use when a fastener of the type illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 are employed.

As illustrated in Fig. 9 the returnbent edges of the backing 20 are provided with open slots 42 having a narrow port-ion 43 and a widened portion 44:. The fasteners shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be readily applied to said return bent edges by inserting the narrow portion of the fastener through the narrow slot 43, and then turning the fastener through so that the greater transverse dimension of the shank of the fastener extendsacross said widened portion. The fastener is then interlocked with said return bent edges of the backing material.

The fastener of Figs. 7 and 8 is readily associated with edges formed, as in Fig. 10, with elongated slots 4:5, having a width slightly greater than the major transverse dimension of the head sections of said fastener, and a length slightly greater than the major longitudinal dimension of said head sections. The fastener can then be applied by passing the head through said slot and, after the head is disposed to the rear of edge 21, then turning the fastener through 90, when the head sections 33 will engagethe backing at opposite sides of said slot.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the-scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregong description, and all changes which come withinthe meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is 1. A picture, mirror or the like, comprising a hollow sheet metal open frame provided with perforations located at intervals around the periphery thereof, a panel disposed in lapped relation on the rear of and visible through said open frame, and elements to secure said panel to said frame including fasteners each having a portion arranged to enter one of said perforations and automatically engage the portion of said frame surrounding the perforation in a manner preventing ready withdrawal of said fastener.

2. A picture, mirroror the like, comprising a hollow sheet metal open frame provided with perforations located at intervals around the periphery thereof, a panel disposed in lapped relation onthe rear of and visible through said open frame, a backing plate for said panel, and fasteners to secure said backing plate and "panel to said frame, each of said fasteners comprising a head and an expansible and contractible shank inserted in one of said perforations and engaging the portion of said frame surrounding theperforation in a manner preventing ready withdrawal of the fastener.

3. A picture, mirror or the like, comprising a hollow sheet metal open frame provided with perforations located at intervals around the periphery thereof, a panel disposed in lapped relation on the rear of and visible through said open frame, a backing plate for said panel provided with return-bent edges directed toward the perforations in said frame, and fasteners attached to said return-bent edges of said backing plate, each of said fasteners having a portion arranged to enter one of said perforations and automatically engage the portion of said frame surrounding the perforation in a manner preventing ready withdrawal of said fastener.

4. A picture, mirror or the like, comprising a hollow sheet metal open frame, provided with perforations located at intervals aroundthe periphery thereof, a panel disposed in lapped relation from the rear of and visible through said open frame, a backing plate having its edges return-bent toward the perforations in said open frame and arranged to cover the rear of said panel, and fasteners to secure said backing plate to said frame, each of said fasteners comprising a head and an expansible and contractible resilient shank, said fasteners being associated with said return bent edges of said backing plate with the heads thereof disposed between the body and the return-bent edge, and the shank extending into one of said perforations, and engaging the portion of said frame surrounding the perforation in a manner preventing ready withdrawal of the fastener.

5. A picture, mirror, or the like, comprising an open frame provided with sockets to receive the expansible and contractible shank of a headed fastener, a panel lapping the rear of said frame so as to be Visible therethrough, a backing for said panel, and headed fasteners for securing said backing to said frame, having the heads thereof engaging said backing and the shanks expanded in said sockets so as to prevent ready withdrawal of said fasteners.

6. A picture, mirror or the like, comprising a frame provided with sockets to receive the expansiblc and contractible shanks of a headed fastener, a panel lapping the rear of said frame, a backing for said panel having the edges thereof return bent toward said frame, and headed fasteners for securing said backing to said frame having the heads thereof disposed between said return bent edges of said backing and the body thereof, and the shanks extended in said sockets so as to prevent ready withdrawal of said fasteners. V

7. A picture, mirror or the like, comprising a hollow sheet metalframe having a continuous depression formed in the rear thereof, terminating short of the sides of the frame, a panel lapping said frame and seated H in said depression, and a backing securing said panel in position and having returnbent edges seated in said depression substantially flush with the rear of the panel, and means associated with said return bent edges and concealed by said backing to removably secure said backing to said frame.

8. A picture, mirror or the like, comprising a hollow sheet metal frame having a continuous depression formed in the rear thereof and terminating short of the sides of the frame, said depression being provided with perforations located at intervals around the periphery of the frame, a panel lapping said frame and seated in said depression and a backing securing said panel in positon and having return-bent edges seated in said depression substantially flush with the rear of the panel, andheaded spring fasteners having their heads disposed between said return bent edges and the body of said backing and concealed thereby, and having the shanks removably secured in said perforations, whereby said backing is detachably and yieldably secured to said frame.

9. A picture, mirror or the like, comprising a hollow sheet metal frame having a continuous depression formed in the rear terminating short of the sides of the frame, a panel lapping said frame and seated in said depression, a backing plate securing said panel in position and having return bent edges seated in said depression substantally flush with the rear of the panel, and spring fasteners each including a head, diverging disposed holding portions and convergently disposed guidin portions, formed from a'single piece of wire and associated with said return bent edges so that the head of the fastener is disposed between an edge and the body of said backing, said holding portions engaging in one of said perforations so as to maintain said backing in position with a constant yielding pressure against said panel. 10. A picture, mirror or the like comprising an open frame, a panel in said frame a backing for said panel and fasteners to detachably hold said backing to said frame said fasteners being each provided with divergently disposed resilient arms hearing at an acute angle against opposite sides of a perforation in said frame and exerting a constant yielding pressure on said backing.

11. A picture, mirror or the like comprising an open frame, a panel in said frame, a backing for said panel and fasteners to detachably hold said backing to said frame, each of said fasteners passing through openings in said backing and being constructed of a single piece of wire and including a head portion and diverging holding portions engaging at an acute angle against opposite sides of a perforation in said frame and applying a constant yielding pressure to said backing.

12. A picture, mirror or the like comprising a frame, a panel in said frame, a backing for said panel, and a plurality of spring fasteners disposed at spaced intervals around said frame, each of said fasteners being passed through an opening in said backing and including a pair of divergently disposed spring arms arranged at acute angles to the planes of the backing and panel so that said arms exert a continuously effective pressure tending to draw the backing firmly against said panel. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BION C. PLACE. 

